Night and day stadium



May 7, 1929. F. w. ERICKSON NIGHT AND DAY STADIUM Filed July 21/ 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1929. F. w. ERICKSON NIGHT AND DAY STADIUM Filed July 21, 192.7

y ,1929. F. w. ERICKS ON ,711,994

NIGHT AND DAY STADIUM Filed July 21, 1927 4Sheets-Sheet 3 y 7, 1929- F. W.'ERICKSON NIGHT AND DAY STADIUM Filed July 21, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 7, 1929.

FREDERIC w EnIoKsoN, or mincnmonr, new roan.

NIGHT AND DAY STADIUM.

Application filed July 21,

This invention relates to structures quite commonly known as stadiums WlllCll are large enclosed areas used for the playing of base ball and other games, and frequently employed for other exhibitions.

Base ball is a very fast game. The central.

object of interest is-a ball of such small di ameter that it must be handled by the players in a strong light not only to enable the The principal object ofthe invention is to, provide an exhibition structure which will enable the I owners to operate itfor profit at times when Weather conditions or darkness would not permit the use of the usual stadium. Moreover, after a heavy rain the playing field of the ordinary stadium is I in such condition that games frequently have to be postponed. With my improved structure, nothing but an exceedingly violent storm can prevent the use of the stadium either in day or night times. Upon the ap proach of any such storm the canopy protection; can be lowered and stowedto avoid damagesuchas ripping'of theicanvas sec tions.

Of course another object which is attained by lily-invention is avoidance of the disape' pointment to the public when deprived of. seeing a game that has been plannedcfor, and the convenienceto the public in being able to attend night, games.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the construction and .combination of parts substantially as hereinafter described-and claimedi. a

Of the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is plan view of the field and seats a and surrounding towers,cbut omitting the canopy sections. 1

Figures 2and3 represent sections on'lines 2--2 and 33 respectively of Figure. 1. and including the canopy structure;

Figure 4: is a. detail cross sectional view" illustrating the, relationship :of the canvas. T

canopy strips and their aprons.

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating the relationship of the" main cables, messenger cables, and canopy.

Figure 6' is a'plan View ofa portion of one of. thecanopystrips shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Figure: 6.. i i

ing 17 supported by slender 18 (Figs/1, 2 and 8).

ground at opposite sides- 7 1927. Sei'ialNe. $37,368.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts or features in all of the views.

So far as the playing field and the seating arrangements are concerned, they may be of any well-known orprei'erred type. As

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

the field 12 is surrounded by a wall or fence 13. The bleacher seats are indicated at 14: (Figs. 1 and 2) and lower grand standseats at'15 16, the latter being protcctedlby a root. posts or columns Rising from the of the field and seats, and preferably also at one or both ends thereof, are towers or columns 19 connected by diagonalbraees 20 (Fig. 2) and preferably having suitable guys 21 (Fig. 3) and pennant or flag poles 22. I I

Said towers are of such height (approximateiy 200 feet) and are sufficiently numer- 9 one to support the canopy Stlipii and their manipulating gear which will now be de-* scribed. I

At the top of each of the side towers is pulley 23 (Fig. 5) over which a main'cable 24 runs from a suitable Windlass not necessary to illustrate, as such hoisting gearsmay be of any preferred type, usually motor-op erated. The two main cables of each pair approach each other from two opposite tow,-- ers and are joined to a cable link by shack- "les 26, all of said cablelinks 25 with their shackles, when the canopy gear is in I use, being'in position sideby side and so as to form a pealcrow alongand over substantially the mid-width of the field or arena. In each shackle 26 is mounted apulley- 27 for a purpose presentlydescribed, and each. shackle has secured to it one end of cable 28 hereinafter referred to'as a mes-- senger cable, which cable passes over a pulley 29 nounted in bearings near'the top of a tower l9, and extends down to another Windlass not necessary to illustrate.

The canopy sections are shiftable along the messenger cables to meetallconditions ofeither complete protection from rain or such partialprotection as when direct sun rays are not wanted on portions of the field or seats. To this end, the canopy comprises strips or sheets of canvas" or other suitable flexible and protecting material, said strips having cross bracesBl which may be curvedfrom end to end. To opposite ends of thealternate bracesil are suitablyflcon nected trolleys 32 (Figs. 4- and e) running on the messenger cables 28. One edge of each strip 30 has depending aprons 33, each apron having a gravity rod 34 enclosed in its lower edge (Fig. 4), the purpose of the aprons being explained hereinafter. The structure is such that the long strips of canvas 30, with their aprons 33, can be extended as indicated in the right hand portion of Figure 5, or withdrawn and folded in loop condition as indicated in the left hand portion of said Figure, in which portion illustration of the aprons is omitted to avoid confusion.

One end of each extensible and collapsible canopy section is secured to a tower 19 as at 37 (Fig. 5) while the trolley 32 at the other end of said section has a cable 38 secured to it, said cable passing around pulley 27 in a shackle 26 and then back over a pulley 39 mounted in bearings near the top of a tower 19 and down to position where, by a Windlass ormanual operation, said cable can be used to extend the canopy section toward or up to the peak of the structure where the shackles 26 are positioned, or can be released so that the trolleys will travel down the inclined messenger cables and carry the canvas section to folded or collapsed condition at the side of the arena.

hen in use durin rainy weather, and also usually for evening or night games or entertainments, the canopy strips 30 are hoisted to as nearly a taut condition as possible; in fact more taut than illustrated in the right hand portion of Figure 5. The canvas sags sufficiently between the edges to form valleys for conducting rain to the sides of the arena. Such sagging may be aided by properly curving the cross braces 31. The canopy sections can be so drawn toward the peak that those on one side will overlap the higher ends of those on the other side at the mid-width of the roof, to prevent a driving rain storm from efit'ecting any precipitation through any peak openings. If the wind is blowing in the direction of the arrow (1 (Fig. 5) the right-hand canopy sections are first drawn up taut and then the left-hand canopy sections are drawn up until their upper ends extend under and somewhat beyond the upper ends of the sections which were first pulled up. If the wind is blowing in the direction of the arrow 6 in said Figure 5, the order of pulling up the right and left hand canopy sections will be reversed. If the wind blows in any such direction as would tend to drive rain in the direction of the arrows 0 (Fig. 4) the aprons 33, with their edge weight rods 34 will prevent the passage of rain between the overlapplng side margins of the sections. As illustrated by Figure 4, the messenger cables 28 are arranged in two levels in order to support the canopy sections to attain the obects ust mentioned. And as also illustrathas that margin which is farthest from thehome plate extending partly under the next farther section so that a ball, illustrated at A in Figure 4 and travelling in the direction of arrow (Z as the result of the batsman knocking it to the far field, will not, if it strikes the canvas, be pocketed in a canopy valley- Preferably side curtains are also employed as indicated at 40 in Figures 2 and 3, which curtains may be hung in any suitable way but preferably so that they may be raised or lowered according to the weather or other conditions. Therefore said ourtains are indicated as suspended from rollers 41.

Mounted in suitable locations, but preferably well up on the inner sides of the towers 19, are search or flood lights 42 all of which, as best illustrated in Figure 5, are so positioned that no rays therefrom are directed either on the field or the seats for the audience. The rays are directed against the roof canopy and the side curtainsall of which are, preferably, painted white or a very light color which will provide reflecting surfaces capable of satisfactorily illuminating the entire arena, so that the players in action,

and even a base ball in its travel about or over the field, can be readily distinguished by all within the arena. The'side curtains aid in effecting this result or object, and they also provide suitable space for advertising, the value of which to the owners is considerable.

If for any reason, such as the approach of a very violent storm, it is desired to quickly clear the space overhead from all canopies and cables, it is only necessary to release the cables and permit their overhead ends and the shackles 26 to reach the ground. Then the pins which secure the cables 24 and 28, and the links 25, to the shackles are removed, after which the parts may be stowed quite compactly. The reverse of this d1s-mounting operation enables the parts to be restored or re-erected without much loss of time.

It will now be understood that the invention provides for a complete canvas roof made up of sections of fabric, so constructed and mounted as to be easily and quickly put in place or removed. Ordinary breezes may circulate through the entire structure with facility and without noise, with results far preferable, in hot summer weather, to what players and audiences must experience in permanently closed structures.

Important advantages obtained by the structure which I have described, are the following When a base ball game can not be played on an open field, because of the weather, that game is postponed and is usually played at some later date when two games are played for one admission. While this may bring a little added revenue, that is, a little more than a single game would bring, it is much less than the admission fees for two games.

Owing to the fact that the use of my improved stadium can be counted on with certainty, day or night, and regardless of weather, with very rare stormy exceptions, it is possible for it to be employed for band concerts, prize fights or boxing contests, conventions, mass meetings etc., thereby adding materially to the income of the owners and the pleasure of the public.

At times on hot summer days when the sunlight interferes with the best playing on the field, or it is too hot for the comfort of the spectators, .such portions of the canopy and side curtains can be pulled into place as may be desired to act as a sun shade for more or less of the interior.

It is a well known fact that band concerts Having now described my invention, I

claim 1. A roof canopy comprising a plurality of flexible strips, and supporting cables in two levels for said strips, each strip having one edge connected to a lower cable and the other edge connected to an upper cable.

2. A roof canopy comprising a plurality of flexible strips, and supporting cables in two levels for said strips, each strip having one edge connected to a lower cable andthe other edge connected to an upper cable, said strips having depending aprons adjacent to their higher edges.

8. A roof canopy comprising a plurality of flexible strips, and means for supporting each strip in inclined trough-shaped condition to conduct rain water.

4;. A structure for use with a field for games and other events, said structure having overhead supporting cables, inclined messenger cables supported by the overhead cables at an intermediate point of the latter, and roof canopy material supported by and shiftable along said messenger cables.

5. A structure for use with a field for games and other events, said structure having overhead supporting cables, messenger cables connected with said overhead cables, and flexible canopy sections provided with depending aprons and having trolleys mounted on said messenger cables.

6. A structure for use with a field for games and other events, said structure having a series of tall towers surrounding the field, main cables crossing the field and supported by said towers, inclined messenger cables supported by the main cables at an intermediate point of the latter, flexible canopy sections provided with depending weightedaprons and having trolleys mounted on said messenger cables,and means for shifting said canopy sections along said messenger cables.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature.

FREDERIG W. ERICKSON. 

